3rd Sunday In Easter

Acts 3:14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.

Want to have some fun? Get your concordance out or your bible computer program and do a search on Holy One and Righteous One. Now substitute the name of Jesus of Nazareth in all those places. That is who those references refer to. Peter is bringing this witness to the fore. They know who Peter is talking about. In some places it refers to God. In other places it refers to God’s servant. But when we are talking about Jesus, he is both God and Servant. As a servant Jesus allowed himself to be killed.

And just who does Peter say they killed? The Author of Life. Jesus is the Author of Life. He is life itself. He breathed the breath of life into Adam and Eve. He is the one who puts the breath of life into every human born. Yet they killed him. They exchanged a murderer for Jesus. Like the Israelites of old, they rebelled against their maker. Paul would remind us, “they crucified the Lord of Glory.”

Now Jesus of course didn’t stay dead. God raised Jesus from the dead, on the third day just as Jesus said he would. Jesus was made our ransom from death. As the one who is both God and Man, the Author of Life, the Lord of Glory, the Lord of heaven and earth in the flesh, his death has reversed the death of Adam. His resurrection has brought life and immortality to life. His resurrection guarantees us a better future, a future with God in the new heavens and new earth.

Peter and the apostles are a witness to Jesus death and resurrection. Many who were there were witnesses of his death. They could witness the empty tomb if they wanted to do so. The place was sealed and guarded with Pilate’s Roman soldiers. If Jesus isn’t there and those soldiers are alive then Jesus is alive. He is risen. Peter is a witness to this truth.

Now Peter also witnesses this to us, in Jesus is life everlasting. This ransom from death and promise of eternal life in Christ is yours for the taking. He is offering it to you today. Believe the good news. The Jews who heard Peter believed. They repented and put their faith in the one, the Holy and Righteous One they murdered but who is now alive and who offered them life. They could go to the tomb. They could see the evidence. Jesus is alive and his power of life was in his disciples. You too believe the good news.

Gracious God and Father, grant unto us faith to see in Jesus as the Author of our life, the promise resurrection from the dead, so we may be partakers of his life and of his glory. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.